For a year or so, I have been enjoying and particularly recommend their dark chocolate with…read morecrystallised ginger. But I also love their honey comb and lots of other special combinations. Do go and sample their varied offerings!! Mark

Oh Edward & Irwyn, how I love your chocolate…read more And you know, not only is it incredibly good but it's *interesting* - they experiment with some great flavours and end up with unique products which pack a punch. One of my favourites are the (salted?) caramel filled mountains with white chocolate and jasmine snow capped peaks. I mean whuuuuuuuuut. I thought the jasmine would be weird but it's actually gorgeous and fruity and totally jasmine but not at all at the same time. Also in love with the green mandarin, beetroot and ??? something which is escaping me. The green mandarin flavour is out of this world. UGH. And let's get to the hot chocolate. The chili, vanilla and tonka bean. Oh my goodness. Heaven. They used to just make for wholesale but started opening up the kitchen directly on weekends leading up to major chocolate events (like Easter when they make the most kicking DRAGON Easter eggs), that then led onto being open the first Saturday of each month and now they're every (though maybe most would be a better description as they'll take off the occasional weekend I'm sure) Saturday 12-3. Really lovely people with fabulous and inventive taste in chocolates. Yum and yum.

HOT HOT HOT CHOCOLATE for ALL chocolate LOVERS! The…read morechocolate tree is located on a busy road and still it's easy to find car parking nearby, especially on a Sunday. Also conveniently accessible by bus. There is not much sitting space, such best to book in advance. We got a lovely table at the front window (which by the way is the only table in the front of the shop). I believe there is a very small sitting area in the back. You can find lots of chocolate variations on display on cupboard shelves. At the moment they offer 10% off chocolate bars before a certain time of the day. There are also macaroons, ice cream a (not gelato), pralines and little "cakes". Above the main entrance you see the drink menu written on huge chalk boards: Traditional chocolate, one for kids and one for adults, white chocolate, milky chocolate, dark chocolate and much more. They do coffee too. I ordered salted caramel ice cream and milk chocolate, which was the best hot milk chocolate in Edinburgh so far, and not to mention I got served plenty of it in a big mug. Definitely worth the money. Must confess, my eyes were bigger than my stomach and next time a hot chocolate will be plenty :-) They are also present with stalls at various Edinburgh markets, like Stockbridge. Its an ideal place to take away and enjoy the "pleasures" somewhere else.

For those 'in the know', the chocolate tree has been an online business for quite some time, but…read moredecided to open up their own shop in our very own city, Edinburgh. If you like chocolate, you will LOVE The Chocolate Tree. Located in the trendy Bruntsfield area, it is in the perfect position to sit in and gorge or sit out and gorge. Their chocolates are all organic (so at least your conscious feels good about eating copious amounts of chocolate...) The decor is very chic, trendy and indulgent. Indeed, I think Indulgence is a theme in the cafe. My first visit was under sad circumstances - recently single and feeling vulnerable, my friend took me and ordered me the 'Spanish Hot Chocolate' (see picture). Oh My God. Where I was feeling despairing, distraught and dismayed I was overcome with delight, deliriousness and felt thoroughly delectable!! It was perfect...perhaps a bit rich, but the first few sips were to die for. It even came with a little dough cake-thing to dip into the thick, gloopy chocolate, like fondue! It would have been ideal for two to share. To be honest, I'm not what you would call a choc-a-holic - especially now that Cadbury's is no longer considered 'chocolate'. But there is something for everyone to enjoy, whether its a slice of their GLORIOUS chocolate cake (it was delicious, after a while I felt I should find a mirror to check if my pupils had dilated) or one of their mini chocolate bites. If you can't make it to the shop they sell online and they're much cheaper than their competition ( it's one of their ethical principles, woohoo!). It really is worth visiting, on a warm summer day to lounge and indulge yourself, or on a cold winter evening to keep yourself warm. It's the sort of place I imagine Harry Potter would sit in...

Ahhh my new love. I love love love Coco chocolate!…read more If you're around the area its well worth stopping by to try the free samples. There is a large variety of chocolate on their shelves, each bar lovingly made and with such creative flavours it'll be hard to choose just one. Highly recommended- lavender chocolate. And their chocolate almonds are pretty fantastic too. I will say it's quite pricey but it's worth it. There are also truffles available as well as stunning gift boxes that make a great gift idea (this was my Valentine's day gift. Loved it!) It's a very small space with a few seats. My reccomendation would be to buy 3 bars for £12, go home, and prepare to have your mind blown by the sheer awesomeness that it Coco chocolate. Or give it away as a gift or share it or something.

Yyyyyyyaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!…read more *runs around house in delight* I was so darn excited when I noticed this little shop had opened, that I nearly dragged a visiting family member into traffic just to peer through the window. One quick little search will prove: I really really like Coco. In fact, I quite recently wrote about the Bruntsfield location and true to form, this little Stockbridge spots lives up to the artisan reputation. So why did this little place get the coveted five stars over Bruntsfield's four? Because it's LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE! Wheeee!! Pre-warning: it is tiny. I wouldn't plan to stay here for a beverage, though Caz is right and they have a chair or two in the window. However, if you have more than two people in the shop, you'd be near elbow to elbow, so I don't see it being a relaxing coffee stop any time soon. BUT they've got a beautiful wall of chocolate bars with every flavour under the sun, a small glass shelved collection of their infamous hand painted chocolates and informal bags of squares, nut clusters, etc, perfect for grey Mondays or "get me through this week" Wednesday afternoons. Between this and Patisserie Madeleine across the road, I see a new waistline in my future...

My friend and I visited this shop on our day out in St Andrew's, we were looking to purchase a…read morevariety of sweets for our friends and family to take home to Dundee. Unfortunately the staff were very rude and a member of staff said to another girl E***e make sure you are facing pointing back and forth at us, she replied with OH. I walked walked out after alerting my friend to what was said. the girl with dark hair shouts out the door bye and thanks. Not a nice way to treat customers especially visitors to the town. Some staff training would probably benefit the employees. I myself have worked in retail and my friend works in security so somehow I don't think we are going to steal. Will never visit again and will make friends and family aware of the poor customer service received

Classic old fashioned sweet shop, even got pocket money sweeties. But also good boxes of chocolates…read moreetc.

Coco of Bruntsfield is one of two specialist shops in Bruntsfield, and I'm afraid to report this is…read morethe poorer of the two. The chocolate is delicious - but when is chocolate not delicious - and the price is a little steep but totally worth it. Word of warning, this is not the place you should go daily to get your 'fix' (I hear ya) as it is proper chocolate, very rich and very intense. They do really great hot chocolates and experiment with different flavours, but if you want to sit down then bring your own seat, It is a shame that the second chocolatier over-shadows Coco, as it tastes just as good! Unfortunately it comes down to the small things - seats! And to be honest the shop was quite cold! But that's just being picky.

We went on a chocolate tour of Edinburgh. It was one of those tours you buy on groupon and such. I…read moregot it for my husband as a bday gift because he loves chocolate so much. This place had the most amazing chocolates. So rich, but not bitter, creamy but bold flavours. A great selection of different delicate flavours. The people that worked there were so nice and really had a great knowledge of their chocolates! I would love to get chocolate from there all the time... but it was just a wee bit too expensive for me. I know one shouldn't put a cap price on hand made chocolates, but I do .. I have too otherwise our rent money would all go to chocolate! haha BUT if you are wanting to buy someone a lovely gift of chocolates and they are a huge chocolate fan then look no further! Wonderful place. Also super cute decor and lay out... just a wee shop though.

I have to thank the wonderful staff and dare I say friends at Lucas Morningside Edinburgh…read more Both my wee granddaughters suffer from life threatening allergies and coming to Lucas makes it so easy to allow them to have a treat just like anyone else can enjoy. Susan and her team go way above and beyond to keep the girls safe. Absolutely nothing is too much trouble. I honestly cannot thank you enough. It means the girls can do something others take for granted and that for us is huge. Thanks again

Amazing Ice cream! I really love the taste of almost all flavours, but the prices are quite high,…read morebut still great quality!

The chocolate fountain at this Princes Street store is highly tempting and I went in the first time…read moreI walked past! They do all sorts of combinations and whilst the marshmallow kebab dipped in melted chocolate is a favourite of many, that's a little bit of a sugar overload in my opinion. I opted for a strawberry kebab instead, which was heavenly but I have two reservations; I feel like I could have recreated it at home with a bar of good quality chocolate and some strawberries from Tescos. Whatsmore, it was quite messy to eat. It's not that pricey, and worth a try. Just be armed with a lotttt of tissue paper!

Wonderful selection of chocolate with reasonable prices. They also sell gelato in some of their…read morecandy flavors. My husband had a small cone of super chocolately chocolate and really enjoyed it.The salesperson was very friendly and helpful in aiding me in selecting gifts. The location on Frederick Street in Edinburgh is next door to Hotel Chocolat Cafe, which also sells candy and serves decadent hot chocolate. Both sell delicious chocolates.

I became familiar with Thinking Chocolate through an introductory workshop ran in partnership with…read morethe Edinburgh Larder. The workshop was run by Nadia, the owner and founder of Thinking Chocolate. It involved a lot of tasting, some of their own chocolate, a lot of useful information. Nadia's love and extensive knowledge of chocolate were obvious throughout. Will definitely be returning in shop and I look forward to the next lesson.

From the owner: Thinking Chocolate arrived in 2007 having turned a 38 year old passion into a wee business. As…read morewell as producing micro batches of handmade chocolates & confections for five star hotels &restaurants, we have a range of practical classes & tasting events. We host events in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and London. We work very closely with our clients, creating memorable experiences to enhance their events be it reward days for business or Hen Parties. As with Fine Wines & Whisky, there are many parallels between chocolate tasting & the appreciation of flavours, expressions & aroma . Creating an informal, fun atmosphere for the enjoyment of these is what we live for! We have built several successful relationships with like minded artisans based on our mutual interest in the pursuit of the perfect match. So come & see us at our shop! Whether you fancy a shot of liquid ganache, are tempted by our delicious truffles, or can't resist one of our gorgeous cakes - it's all good

One of my favourite places in Edinburgh to go hang out. Like many of the places in Edinburgh this…read morechocolate shop has bags of style, not only in its delectable cakes and chocs but its decor. Walk in here, and you've walked into a the Parisian cafe of your dreams and I'm sure the new location will only add to that. The hot chocolate here is gorgeous but still hasn't beaten my favourite from the Chocolate Boutique in Auckland but I think that's down to personal preference! The chocs here are DIVINE and you can tell that the chocolatiers really put thought and effort into everyone of them. They look beautiful, taste beautiful and it is this care and attention that really makes this place head and shoulders above the rest and dare I say it but this is one of the best chocolate shops in the UK. The shop also boasts an extensive tea and coffee menu that once again shows the owners care and attention to source some unique blends. If you love chocolate you will adore Plaisir du Chocolat.

When my husband and I lived in Edinburgh, this was our favorite chocolatier…read more The handmade chocolates are encased in a thin shell designed with beautiful cocoa prints. The store also wraps these jewels up in a tasteful celadon green box imprinted with their logo and tied up with a brown ribbon. There are an assortment of flavors including lavender, sencha tea, lotus flowers, bergamot essence, pepper, and so much more. *** Another closed location, but I had this already written in my queue. I'll miss this place. Does anyone else recommend a chocolatier that does a similar style?

The entire experience was awesome. From the tour guide to the taste testing, you feel immersed in…read morethe world of chocolate. Yum!

First trip to Edinburgh Scotland! My friend booked us a tour at The Choclatarium, and I have to say…read morethe tour was so great! Carina the tour guide was informative with a great personality. She imparted her knowledge with enthusiasm and some humor sprinkled in. We arrived a little late for the tour we booked and we're not made to feel bad about it. We were asked if we had any dietary restrictions and I told her I was vegan. The woman that checked us in let the tour guide know. Every part of the tasting, I was provided with vegan version. It was all so delicious! We were given drinking chocolate when we arrived, it was made with oat milk. Warm, rich and creamy..so good! After a talk, we were led into a room where we sampled chocolate and then made our own chocolate bars. I was provided with dark chocolate, vegan marshmallows and I added a pinch of red pepper flakes. I poured into a mold shaped like a castle. Best chocolate bar ever! While we waited for our chocolate bars to set. We listened to some history of the cocoa beans and the guide made a drink that we all toasted to. She explained the ingredients the Aztecs used as she mixed it up, minus the blood of a human sacrifice. This was an amazing experience, I would highly recommend!